Online Golf Tips Blog

As golfers are always looking to lower their scores, a putting training aid is the perfect golf gift idea. Whether you are looking for a golf gift for your spouse, boss or junior golfer, there are many different choices. Here are the top suggestions for training putting aids to make the decision easier of finding a golf gift easy for you.

Putting Training Aid #1: Putting Square System

With the mirrored Putting Square System, you can easily ensure that your setup is proper with your eyes are over the ball, your shoulders are lined up and the putter face is square to your target line. The Putting Square System’s adjustable rails enable you to practice a perfect back and through stroke. This putting training aid is perfect for someone who believes the Dave Pelz, author of The Putting Bible, method of putting.

Putting Training Aid #2: Putting Laser Line Putter

A golfer can easily lower their scores with The EyeLine Putting Laser Line. Easily attach The Putting Laser Line to your putter shaft. Immediately you will be able to see a line square to the putter face and on the target line. This will insure that you are setup squarely to every putt. The Putting Laser Line is delivered with an instructional DVD. With the Putting Laser Line, a golfer can track your stroke perfectly during your backswing and follow-through.

Putting Training Aid #3: Bullseye Cup

Whether you are stroking straight or breaking putts, The Bullseye Cup will make a real putting cup look like a basketball net and allow you to feel like you can make everything! The Bullseye Cup is a circular device with a two inch opening that reduces the hole by 30%. This two inch opening will help you visualize where the ball should enter the hole on a breaking or straight putts.

Putting Training Aid #4: Putting Arc Deluxe

The Putting Arc Deluxe is a beautifully finished solid piece of wood that can be used indoor or outdoors. The Putting Arc is a revolutionary new golf training aid, which will guide you to a simple, repeatable, and understandable approach to putting. With The Putting Arc Deluxe you will develop a confidence when standing over your putter felt by only a small percentage of golfers. A confidence in your ability to direct the golf ball exactly where you intend is priceless. The Putting Arc works because it teaches you to take the putter head in pure planar rotation about an axis which passes through the golfer’s spine between the shoulders. This means that the hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders all stay connected throughout the putting stroke. The Putting Arc Deluxe is used regularly used by PGA Tour Professionals.

Putting Training Aid #5: Stan Utley’s DVD - Learning the Curve

Use Stan Utley’s DVD - Learning The Curve and take a personal putting lessons with the top putting guru in the game! Stan Utley covers all aspects of putting which include: Proper Setup, Proper Stroke, Proper Impact as well as using your Learning Curve. Coupled with the Learning Curve Putting Training Aid (not included), your scores are sure to get better.

Max Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for Golf Gift. Click for more Putting Training Aid.

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Quick and easy gifts to take to a dinner party are painted wine glass identifiers. Wine glass Identifiers are an inexpensive way to give someone something that is just a little different. The make great conversation pieces and can be taken with a bottle of wine to the dinner party without breaking the bank. Dinner parties are not the only time you can use painted wine glass identifiers, other occasions include:

A client has invited you and your spouse to dinner in their home. Of course, you ask your client what you can bring for the evening. The two most common responses that you will receive is 1. Nothing and 2. Wine. Knowing they are golfers, it is very easy add some simple painted wine glass identifiers or golf wine charms to go with the bottle of wine. If the two spouses have not met, this simple gift could easily become the conversation piece that helps to break the ice. In addition, your client will recognize the fact that you have been listening to them as you have personalized their gift for them.

Believe it or not you can add even more fun to your wine tasting at the Country Club without adding to your headache the next morning! Take some painted wine glass identifiers. I am sure that there are many stories that could be attached to certain golf wine charms for the funny things that have happened on the golf course to the players in your group. Obviously, you can stay with the theme of the wine tasting or go your own direction for fun. You will be the conversation of the event!

Many of us look for an inexpensive birthday gift for a co-worker, neighbor or something just to take to the party. Painted wine glass identifiers are the perfect solution.

If you are like me, you are always trying to find something different for the golfers on your list. Whether used as stocking stuffers or as a gift at a white elephant holiday party, they are fun for everyone.

Ladies, be able to identify and individualize your wine glass while at your Association meetings or after your round of golf. If you have a regular group that you play with then you can also use a set of painted wine glass identifiers in your post round lunch. They could be handed out by what transpired on the golf course that are handed out depending on what happened out on the golf course whether your round of golf was nine or eighteen holes.

Guys do not count these out as you can use the charms or identifiers on the handle of your beer mugs! As I have sat in many of these evening Golf Association meetings myself, I have always wanted to make sure that I have the correct mug on many occasions. Painted wine glass identifiers allow me to do that. If you have a usual group, you could assign the identifiers by what happened out on the golf course to add more fun to your round.

As you can see, painted wine glass identifiers can be used in many ways. painted wine glass identifiers are flexible in how they can be used such as wine charms, beer mug identifiers, stocking stuffers or a gift to a host or hostess. They are great conversation pieces and will add a nice touch from a meeting to a dinner to a flat out party.

Maxx Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for Wine Glass Identifiers. Click for more Golf Gifts.

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This article is going to talk about the benefit of having your very own backyard putting green. For any golfer that has been working on their game for more than a few months, there is a quick realization that the short game can make or break your score. The key to all precision sports is practice, practice, practice, which is exactly what having your own putting green in your backyard will allow you to do.

As you start to look for your personal putting green it is important to think about what kind of green will fit your needs and your budget. Installation can be done as a do it yourself project or you can look into companies that install large private greens. Obviously, this means the expense of the project can easily range from a couple hundred dollars all the way up to the tens of thousands.

If you decide to get your hands dirty and complete the project yourself, then you will definitely want to do some extensive research on the materials involved. For instance, you will need to decide whether to use artificial turf or if you want to real grass maintained just like a golf course.

In terms of over all time commitment in developing your backyard putting green, it is recommended that choose the synthetic route simply because the time required to grow the proper grass can make your backyard renovation take years before you really enjoy your new space.

Fake grass will allow you to set up your backyard project in days instead of months, plus it will allow you to use your green for a longer part of the season. Depending on your local climate, the grass can be hard to grow and go dormant over the fall and winter. This would make a backyard green out of real grass very seasonal and if not maintained perfectly, could hurt your game.

Artificial backyard greens are usable year round with minimal maintenance and keep its smooth, flat shape so your put rolls true every time. They also have the benefit of being modular, so you can extend and reshape your practice green as your needs and budget allow.

The truth is you can not go wrong with either an artificial putting green in your backyard or a true bent grass personal green. It really boils done to a personal preference, cost constraints, and geography.

If you do hire a company to install the green for you make sure to thoroughly research the materials and get references from past installations. Many references will even be polite enough to have you stop in and see exactly how the final product looks. This is a great way to judge a putting green installation company and get some great ideas for what might work for your green.

All golfers have the dream of living off a golf course or having a private club membership with weekly tee times. Not all of us will have that opportunity, but anyone can have their own personal backyard putting green if they wish.

James provides information about backyard putting greens through his website on putting greens.

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To become better at executing a pitch shot, you will need to learn how to control the initial trajectory or launch of the shot. Have you noticed that on Tour most players will use a sandwedge or a sixty degree wedge from around the green? Sometimes they will throw the ball up in the air and have it stop quickly and other times it will run the majority of the way to the hole. Here is how they do it.

A lower trajectory, you must first place the ball back in your stance with sixty percent of your weight on your left foot for right-handed golfers. This will seem odd at first. Depending how low you need to hit the shot this could be as far back as the big toe on your right foot for a right-handed golfer. Also, insure that your hands or grip are by your left thigh. This will lean the shaft towards the target and de-loft the club face otherwise, turning your sandwedge into say an eight or nine iron. For a short shot from just off the green just make your putting stroke and allow the grip end of the club to return ahead of the clubhead as it was at address. In your finish position, make sure that your grip is in front of your left thigh for a right handed player and be able to hold your finish position there for a count of three seconds.

A medium trajectory, place the ball in the middle of your stance. As you look down at your hands, the grip end of the club should be just in front of the ball. For a short shot from just off the green just make your putting stroke and allow the grip end of the club to return ahead of the clubhead as it was at address. In your finish position, make sure that your grip is in front of your left thigh for a right handed player and be able to hold your finish position there for a count of three seconds.

A high trajectory, place the ball in front of the center of your stance. The grip end of the golf club should be pointing at the middle of your body. You will notice that the more the grip end of the club moves towards the center of your body the club will look like that it has more loft on the face. For a short shot from just off the green, you will need to create some more clubhead speed to allow for the extra loft on the clubface. Insure the grip end of the club to returns equal to the clubhead as it was at address. Again, you should be able to hold your finish for a count of three seconds.

With some visualization, now you too can hit different shots. You can hit a high shot to get to that front flag or a low shot to get to the back flag. You will look like a Pro!

Max Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for Pitch Shots. Click for more Short Game Tips.

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If you ask the players on the PGA Tour to name what they believe to be the most important golf fundamentals, there is no doubt that golf swing alignment would be towards the top of the list. However, most amateurs either do not know or do not admit how important golf swing alignment is to their success.

It is amazing how you always have certain things that stick with you that you have heard from your different instructors. On the topic of golf swing alignment, one of my old instructors used to say .You can have the biggest and boldest cannon and it does not mean anything to you if it is not aimed in the correct direction.. There are many sayings that I am sure that you have heard along these lines. Obviously, you can hit the perfect golf shot but if it is aimed 30 yards to the left of the target the results are not going to be to your liking.

Since golf swing alignment is a main fundamental to each and every golf shot, here are some simple exercises that you can quickly and easily do to check your golf swing alignment.

First, setup to a golf shot as you normally would and make sure you are comfortable. Now that you are ready to make your golf swing, place a tee directly behind each of your heels and push both tees all the way into the ground. Now move away from your setup and place a club.s shaft over both of the tees to create a straight line. Now, go behind your ball and look down the target line. Does it match what you thought?

This golf alignment exercise shows you exactly where you are aligning your feet. If your pictures do not match, then you can simply change or move the tees so they align correctly and then setup with the tees touching the back of your heels. If you were not aligned properly, do not be surprised that when you setup to your next shot with your heels properly placed that you will feel that you are aimed somewhere else. If your feet have been aligned incorrectly for a while, then it will feel quite strange when you do align them correctly. Keeping track of your alignment, your new feet position will become second nature in no time at all.

Another easy way to check your alignment is to assume your address position, remove your left hand from the club and simply point to a spot 10 yards to the left (for a right-handed golfer) of your target. Monitor where your arm and finger are pointing opposed to where your shoulders and hips are pointing. They should feel like they are creating a straight line. If you feel they are pointing to the left then you are prone to hit a push or a hook. If pointing to the right, you are prone to hit a pull or a slice.

As the PGA Tour players would agree, your golf swing alignment is one of the most important golf fundamentals for each golf shot that you take. You must check it often, because it’s very easy to align yourself incorrectly without even knowing it. That is why I would be surprised if you were on driving range at a PGA Tour stop and did not see several players with clubs on the ground to assist with their golf swing alignment. Now that you know exactly what you need to do to check your golf swing alignment, you should be hitting more golf shots at your target and lowering your scores.

Max Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for Golf Swing Alignment. Click for more Golf Instruction.

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Are you looking for a golf gift for your spouse, your children or a golfing friend? Golfers are always looking to improve their golf game and so a golf training aid is the perfect golf gift idea. Since there are so many different golf training aids, we are going to provide you with our top suggestions to make the decision easier for you.

Golf Training Aid #1: Weighted Practice Club

GolfGym’s Club 38 or GolfGym’s Club 28 are the best weighted practice club available and both come with a Katherine Roberts Quick Start DVD. “Since incorporating GolfGym products into my fitness programs, I have been able to offer a more effective level of golf-specific training and conditioning to my students.” - Katherine Roberts, The Golf Channel Fitness Expert.

Experienced golfers know the importance of being able to feel the golf club throughout the entire golf swing. Good players understand how using a weighted practice club will add power and increase the range of motion in your golf swing. In using a weighted practice club, they realize increased distance, fewer injuries and more enjoyment of the game. The exclusive club design of the Club 38 or Club 28 allocates the weight of the practice club like that of a standard golf club. This has half of the total weight in the bottom third of the club. With this type of weighting you will develop consistency by staying on plane which will lead to better golf shots and lower scores.

Golf Training Aid #2: Putting Laser

The EyeLine Putting Laser Line makes lowering golfers scores much easier. The Putting Laser Line quickly attaches to the putter shaft and immediately allows you to see a line square to the putter face and on the target line and will insure that you are setup squarely to every putt. The Putting Laser Line is delivered with an instructional DVD. With the Putting Laser Line, a golfer can track your stroke perfectly during your backswing and follow-through.

Golf Training Aid #3: The Practice T

Every golf swing must have a good foundation and The Practice T is the tool that will help you build the perfect foundation. By using golf tees, The Practice T can be secured into the ground. The setup of The Practice T is very simple and very easy to adjust while the player continues their practice session by sliding the cross-bar. This bar will monitor that the ball position is correct. The Practice T mirror allows the golfer to be certain their shoulders are aligned properly. This product also comes with the instructional DVD which gives the user tips on how to best use The Practice T.

Golf Training Aid #4: Putting Square System

This puting training aid is perfect for someone who believes the Dave Pelz straight back and straight through method of putting. The mirrored Putting Square System allows a golfer to monitor that their eyes are over the ball and monitor that their shoulders are lined up with the face of the putter square to the target line. The Putting Square System has changeable side rails that force the player to practice a perfect back and through stroke.

No matter what skill level the golfer is you will be able to find something that will make any golfer that you know happy and improve their game.

Maxx Johnson of VGS Golf & Country Club Supplies Click for Golf Training Aid. Click for more Golf Gifts.

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Golf News November 15th, 2008

Stanford Leads Lorena Ochoa Invitational

Angela Stanford shot a 6-under 66 on Friday in the second round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational to take a two-stroke lead over LPGA Championship winner Yani Tseng.

Stanford had a 10-under 134 total on the Guadalajara Country Club course. Tseng, No. 2 in the world behind Ochoa, shot her second straight 68. Ochoa followed her opening 73 with a 71 on her home course, leaving her 10 strokes back.

Meena Lee (69) was 6 under, and Karen Stupples (71) was 5 under. Annika Sorenstam (72), leaving the tour at the end of the season, was 4 under in group that included Juli Inkster (69) and Seon Hwa Lee (72).

Golf

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ELS EASES INTO LEAD

Ernie Els took over at the top of the leaderboard after finishing his first round at the Barclays Singapore Open this morning with two birdies in his final three holes.

The South African trailed clubhouse leader Lam Chih Bing of Singapore by one stroke with four holes to play when darkness ended play at Sentosa Golf Club yesterday evening with half of the field yet to complete their opening rounds.

The ‘Big Easy’ spurned an opportunity to draw level with Lam on four under when he missed a birdie putt on the 15th with his first stroke of the day.

But birdies at the 16th and 18th saw Els card a five-under-par 66 as he moved into first place in the US dollars 5million Asian Tour event.

“I’m pleased with that,” said Els. “I putted nicely and hit the ball okay.

“It’s not an easy course. If you miss shots, you’ll pay the price. I felt comfortable with the swing and I’m pretty pleased with the start.

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Video Golf Lessons

Golf pushes today for spot in 2016 Olympics

GENEVA | Leaders of several sports, including golf, will present their cases today to the International Olympic Committee, hoping for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games.

Besides golf, officials from baseball, softball, karate, roller sports, rugby and squash also will meet the 16-member program commission, which will deliver an influential report to the IOC’s top decision- making body before the vote by IOC members in October.

The IOC will field 28 sports at the 2016 Olympics, allowing two sports to be added.

Each sport has a one-hour slot, with baseball making the first pitch in the closed-door presentations in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The case for golf, last played at the Olympics in 1904, will be presented by the International Golf Federation. It’s led by PGA executive Ty Votaw and Peter Dawson of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland.

Break 80 Golf

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Whether it’s in baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis or any other sports that involves a ball, there is a feeling of immense satisfaction and pride that comes from hitting the ball solidly. Nowhere does this apply more than in golf, where the small ball goes where it wants on anything but a solid shot.

If you want to hit the ball solidly on a consistent basis, the only way is through practice, practice, and more practice.

You may not think so, but the best time to practice is right after a round. Everything that didn’t work for you during the round is fresh in your mind, and your body and mind are ready to go. Failure to work consistently on the shots that regularly give you the most trouble means your game won’t soon improve.

The key to maximizing your efficiency in practice is creating ‘real’ situations. Ideally, you would mirror what happened in your round and employ your best swings. Also work on hitting balls from every bad lie you can think of. This is extra important if you haven’t played for a while.

You can boost your game further by visualizing a round of golf during lunch or breaks, on your way to or home from work, etc. Imagine taking many good swings and hitting a great shot each time. See your entire body flowing in unison through each shot, completely tension-free. This isn’t useless preparation. You are increasing your muscle memory and preparing them for the next round.

If you enjoy other sports, you can transfer movements in these sports to help your golf game. The way you shift your weight on a tennis backhand shot is very similar to the bodyweight transfer on a golf shot. Use the tennis experience to remember what you need to do on the links. For detailed steps on how to swing properly we suggest you pick up a copy of the Golf Beginners Guide - it’s a 272 page ebook full of great advice, tips and lessons in golf.

When you’re hitting a lot of balls in one session, remember to take a break between swings. By doing this, you will avoid mental and physical exhaustion and can use the time to process what you’ve learned or accomplished. Remember, you’re not out there to hit a thousand shots, rather a few beautiful ones. Hitting 20-30 balls at a time is sufficient practice, especially if the majority of these are struck on the sweet spot of the clubface.

To hit a more accurate shot and promote better contact, pull out your favorite iron and try this exercise. Take two tees and stick them in the ground a couple of inches apart. (You can also use two balls.) Try (air)swinging your iron through the tees without hitting them. Start with partial swings and work your way up to full swings as you get better at avoiding the tees. Before long you will be hitting the ball more solidly.

It may sound corny, but do not forget the feeling of a good shot. Memorize it and internalize it, then practice it and you will soon be able to produce it consistently. It’s very easy to lose the feeling of a great shot because there are so many variables that went into hit, from hand position, proper grip and good pre-swing body alignment to the right ball position, clubface impact and follow-through.

The above information is just a small morsel taken from the Golf Beginners Guide. This 272 page ebook is full of golf tips and advice. I think every Golfer should have it, especially beginners.

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Planning a trip in Las Vegas anytime soon? Are you an avid golfer? Combine the two and enjoy a relaxing golf vacation package. The benefits will be beyond your expectations and dreams. Playing golf in Las Vegas, what can be better than that?

There are many great values on golf vacation packages available through travel agents and planners. Not only is it a great escape, but they can be very affordable as well. Because there are so many options available, be ready to consider all the various options before you decide.

The bundles will be all inclusive to all your needs on your Vegas Vacation. Lodging, show tickets, and of course access to some of the greatest golf courses this side of the strip. With a little searching you can find all the luxuries with a great Vegas Vacation Bundle.

One choice would be the Paiute Resort. They have luxury suites and will allow you to access the exclusive Paiute golf course. This course was designed by Pete Dye and has the largest coverage in all of Vegas. You can share the company and walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest professional golfers in the PGA.

Another exhilarating option would be the beautiful Wynn Las Vegas. With perks and luxury suites abound, you will feel like royalty staying at this lavish resort. Featuring a championship golf course, spa amenities, dining, and a casino that includes some of the most prestigious high rollers of our day, the Wynn is definitely worth considering for your next vacation.

Lastly, the Lake Las Vegas Resort is another great consideration. Located a little further off the beaten path, it is set on a private lake with access limited to private guests only. Celebrities have been known to use the spa services here as well. This is a great choice if you want to be far enough from the strip to relax, but close enough to get to the strip for all the exciting night life.

If none of the hotels mentioned above are in your price range, there are many more options with a much lower price tag. The before mentioned resorts are some of the more expensive choices avaialbe, but there are also many mroe affordable options as well. You should speak to your travel agent about all available options.

In conclusion, there are many golf vacation packages available in Las Vegas. If a package is not what you are looking for, you may also consider staying at one hotel and golfing at another. With a time and help from your travel agent, the perfect ultimate Vegas golf vacation package can be found.

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Golf Tips and Lessons November 15th, 2008

Gate Drill can help your putting | Golf Tips

Golf School

Here is an oldie but goodie drill for putting that is making a big comeback, thanks to a company called Momentus. They make many well-made teaching aids for golfers of all abilities and ages.

This one is called the gate drill. If you don’t want to pay the $50 fee for the device itself, you can make your own for with some supplies you most likely already have.

Pictured on the left is a simple practice putting station with two golf tees and a string representing your line to the hole. On the right is the Momentus teaching aid that does the same thing.

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Gimmies take away satisfaction of making putt for birdie

Private Golf Lesson

You’re playing with your regular foursome and hit a great iron shot up onto the green with your ball landing only two feet from the hole.

What do most weekend players do next? They walk up and knock the ball away, giving themselves the putt either before or after their partner said, “that’s good.”

Not only did you break a rule, but you’ll never know if you actually would have made the putt.

You’ll forever lose the satisfaction of making a real birdie since you didn’t actually putt the ball in the hole.

Golfers do this everywhere, on every course, and they’re breaking the rules every time they do it.

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Golf tips from a pro

Golf Lessons

There is not much movement needed to make short putts, but we often leave the green with a sour taste because we miss one too many of them. The problem is we get so caught up in mechanics, that we forget how simple they really are.

The best way to start to make more short putts is to practice them and learn to free your mind. I’m going to give you a few drills and games that you can do to improve your putting.

* Place six tees surrounding the hole, about 2 feet from the hole. Play a putt from each spot until you can make them all in a row a couple of times. Then try to make them with your eyes closed. Listen, too. Hearing the ball going in the hole will help to build your confidence.

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Golf tips: getting the kids started

It is definitely a great idea to get your kid or kids started out in this great game early and correctly.

It teaches them so many wonderful things like self control, honor, respect, teamwork, problem solving and the list goes on, and on.

Your child does not have to be the next great thing in the game, just get them started and just watch what happens.

You do not have to go to the golf course to work on this game with kids. Keep it fun, I would suggest getting them to enjoy putting first. Any decent simulated putting green will be fine.

Once they learn some basic rules and etiquette start taking them to your nearest driving range or par-three golf course to learn the full swing and how to play the game. If you are not sure of the basics yourself, get the “summary of the rules of golf” for juniors from the USGA or PGA. Your local pro can help you. Good luck and keep it simple.

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